United Airlines

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    Emergency Landing in SFO


    On August 3rd, a United Airlines Boeing 747-400 was en route to Sydney, Australia when it made an emergency landing in San Francisco International Airport Saturday night.

    An emergency was declared on 863 after taking off at 10:45 p.m.

    One of the engines was shut down.

    The plane turned around, dumped fuel and made a safe landing at San Francisco International Airport with emergency services standing by.

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    Emergency landing in McAllen

    A United Airlines/SkyWest Flight 5229 Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-200 ( Brownsville-Houston flight diverted to McAllen on July 12, 2013 when the pilots discovered pressurization problems.

    Pilots received a cabin door indicator light in the flight deck.

    Passengers disembarked without any problems.

    None of the 43 aboard suffered injury.

    Video Interview of Passengers


    Flight Aware Flight Path

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    United Boeing Dreamliner Flies Houston to Houston


    photographer Greg Kieca

    On June 24, 2013, a United Boeing 787 Houston to Denver flight developed an issue with the brakes (or brake indicator) and made an emergency landing. Details about the specific problem were not released.

    The flight left Houston at 9.12am and arrived in in Houston at 11:58 a.m.

    None of the 219 passengers and 13 crew members sustained any injury. Maintenance examined the plane. The plane was returned to service.

    Stranded passengers were provided travel solutions by a Boeing field service representative.

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    United Airlines Passenger Poisoner

    June 17 2013 2pm
    On an United Airlines Flight 116 from Tokyo to Newark, a passenger got up during the flight and yelled to fellow passengers that he’d poisoned everyone.

    The flight landed at 1:30 pm in Newark, and was taken into custody by the FBI and Port Authority Police. No one became ill but he was hospitalized. He is reported to be mentally disturbed.

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    Teenager Sues Masturbation Airlines


    Seventeen year old Monica Amestoy was flying home from a debate in New York—a six hour flight—and witnessed an unwanted exhibition: a man across the aisle was masturbating. She pointed out the incident to Flight attendants.

    After nothing was done to stop the man, seventeen year old Monica Amestoy returned home to California to file a lawsuit against United Airlines.

    The incident happened last year.

    Although Monica complained to a flight attendant, United failed to safeguard Monica. Subsequently, United took no action and are surely guilty of neglecting the welfare of their passengers.

    On landing in Los Angeles, UA failed to immediately report the criminal activity. Monica reported the incident to her father and he contacted law enforcement. After the investigation, the FBI prosecuted and convicted the perpetrator.

    Gloria Allred filed the suit in Los Angeles county superior court.

    Video

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    Plane Hits Airbridge

    On April 22, 2013 at 10:30am, a Los Angeles-Sydney-Melbourne flight damaged its wing while on the ground.

    The United Airlines Boeing 747-400 was pulling into an air bay when it struck the airbridge of a parking bay at the airport in Melbourne.

    Passengers disembarked by stairs. There were no injuries but the plane required repairs.

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    Boeing Diverts to Shannon

    On Feb 8 2013, a United Boeing 777 was en route from London to Los Angeles when pilots reported that there was smoke the cockpit.

    Pilots dumped fuel and diverted to Shannon airport in Ireland.

    None of the 182 passengers or ten crew was injured.

    They landed with emergency services on standby.

    I wasn’t aboard this flight. But I take this flight all the time on business trips going and coming. There is one a day from London, direct.

    I’m always glad to hear of a safe landing.

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    United Airlines Launches International Dreamliner

    United Airlines is offering Boeing 787 Dreamliner is now offering daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Tokyo Narita, with 36 seats in United BusinessFirst, 70 seats in United Economy Plus, and 113 seats in United Economy.

    UA 787 service will be offered between its Houston hub and Lagos, Nigeria, five days a week, beginning on January 7, 2013.


    Click to Take United’s Dreamliner Tour

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    UA Diverts to New Orleans

    What: United Airlines 787 Dreamliner en route from Houston to Newark
    Where: New Orleans
    When: December 4, 2012
    Who: 184 aboard
    Why: The Houston to Newark UA Dreamliner flight was over the Mississippi River, forty minutes after takeoff when it had to divert and make an emergency landing in New Orleans. The plane received “multiple flight-system error messages.” Flight 1146 landed safely at at 9:25 a.m. and without incident, with 174 passengers and 10 crew.

    Emergency services was on standby. Passengers disembarked without incident and were provided an alternative flight to Newark.

    An undisclosed mechanical issue was at fault.

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    Emergency Landing at Heathrow

    What: United Boeing 767-300 en route from London to Chicago
    Where: Heathrow
    When: Aug 27 2012
    Why: While en route, the jet developed engine problems. The engine was shut down, and the flight returned to London where pilots made a fast landing.

    Travel.aol.co.uk and www.dailymail.co.uk reported that “Chicago-bound plane had to be sprayed with water by firemen to cool the engine” but we tend to believe the fast landing/hot brakes angle. (Thank you Anonymous)

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    United Airlines Tuesday Glitch, Wednesday Weather

    According to Los Angeles flight crew, United’s system went down nationwide on Tuesday.

    Take-offs were delayed, and passengers were delayed at airports. 200 flights were delayed during the 2 1/2 hour outage. On Twitter, passengers complained Tuesday of long lines and other dissatisfaction and issues. Today, the United website is back, with a Weather Summary headline about Hurricane Isaac.

    South – The core of Isaac’s impacts occur from the lower Mississippi Valley to southwestern Alabama and a very small portion of the western Florida Panhandle. Heavy rain and fresh water flooding are likely from Louisiana to western Alabama. Additional rainfall totals of 2 to 10 inches with high spots near 15 inches are likely through tonight. Sustained winds of 25 to 55 mph with gusts to hurricane force are possible across eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi through this afternoon. A gradual slackening of the wind is expected tonight as Isaac continues to weaken slowly. Persistent onshore flow throughout eastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle keeps the storm surge high today. The water rise in eastern Louisiana, including Lake Pontchartrain should continue to be 3 to 10 feet today. Slow recession of the storm surge begins later today and tonight as Isaac pushes farther inland. The tornado threat is highest in eastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwest Alabama. Other shower and thunderstorm activity caused by the combination of Isaac’s moisture and a weakening cold front is expected across the Southeast. Occasional showers and thundershowers are still possible in Florida.

    Northeast – It will be mainly sunny and dry for most areas today. More cloudiness and a stray shower or thunderstorm is expected in southern sections of Virginia. Temperatures will be close to late August averages today. High temperatures reach the 60s and 70s in New York and New England. Slightly warmer temperatures with highs in the 70s and 80s from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Virginias.

    Midwest – The majority of the region will be dry, sunny, and hot today. There is a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm across the western Dakotas late this afternoon or early this evening. Temperatures run up to 25 degrees above average across the Plains and Mississippi Valley. A few areas of South Dakota and Nebraska could reach 110 degrees this afternoon.

    West – Dry conditions dominate most of the region again today. Scattered thunderstorms are most likely in the Four Corners states and southern Wyoming. Stray thunderstorms are possible in southern Arizona and southeastern California. Stray showers could move through western Washington.”

    SRC: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/weather/todaysOperations.aspx

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    Blown tire and Engine Down Leads to Emergency Landing in Newark


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Andrew Compolo

    What: United Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark to Berlin
    Where: Newark
    When: Aug 18 2012
    Who: 173 aboard
    Why: On takeoff, the plane blew a tire. Simultaneously, the plane gave feedback of problems with both engines, with witnesses seeing fire coming from the left engine. That engine was shut down. The plane managed to circle for two hours to burn off fuel before returning to make a safe landing in Newark.

    In George’s Point of View


    I should probably throw in my usual nag Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance! while at the same time praising the CRM and skill of the pilots. This could have certainly come out a much worse report, except that the pilots knew exactly what to do to have a safe outcome.

    –commenting from London

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    Denver Birdstrike under Investigation


    What: United Boeing 737-900 en route from Dallas to Denver
    Where: Denver
    When: Jul 31, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
    Who: 151 aboard
    Why: The Boeing was on approach when it suffered a bird strike in the nose cone. The bird strike did not affect the engine or landing gear.

    No one was injured. The birds remains are being identified by an ornithologist.

    The NTSB is investigating.

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    Turbulence Sends Flight to Lake Charles with Injured Flight Crew


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Alevik

    What: United Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Houston to New York
    Where: Lake Charles Regional Airport
    When: June 12, 2012 9 pm
    Who: 88 passengers 3 injured
    Why: While flight attendants were about to serve drinks when the flight encountered severe turbulence that slammed them into the ceiling of the plane, then the floor.

    Three members of the flight crew were injured during the flight, one of them seriously.

    Pilots diverted to Lake Charles Regional Airport where the injured were taken to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

    In George’s Point of View


    They really have to come up with science that sees all upcoming turbulence, so the plane can avoid it before something really bad happens.

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    United Flight to Mexico Diverts to Tampa

    What: UNITED Airlines Airbus A320 en route FROM Washington DC to Cancun
    Where: Tampa International Airport
    When: May 21, 2012, 11:25 AM
    Who: 127 passengers
    Why: The DC-Cancun flight was over the Atlantic when it diverted to Tampa. Pilots informed ATC when smoke appeared in the cabin. They made a save landing.

    Emergency services were on standby on arrival in Tampa. Passengers were evacuated on landing. No injuries were reported.

    Mechanics took on examining the plane. Passengers were provided an alternative flight.

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    United Visual Landing Without Instruments, Boston


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Jason Whitebird

    What: United Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Chicago to Boston
    Where: Logan International
    When: Oct 23, 2012
    Who: 144 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: The pilot was on approach to Logan when he noticed a problem with his instruments.

    The pilot informed ATC of instrument failures and pressurization issues. ATC cleared a holding pattern, until the pilot performed a visual landing.

    The pilot taxied to the Terminal C gate at 12:42 pm. Below is the pilot’s audio.

    Pilot audio

    Pilot’s audio provided by http://www.liveatc.net

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    London-bound Boeing Suffers Lightning Strike


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Tiago Palla

    What: United Boeing 777-200 en route from San Francisco to London
    Where: San Francisco
    When: Apr 12th 2012
    Who: 195 passengers aboard
    Why: After taking off from San Francisco, the left side of the United Boeing 777 was struck by lightning. Passengers described the flash of light and the big bank. Oxygen masks deployed. No one was injured. Weather suspended other flights taking off from that airport until the storm blew through.

    Pilots informed ATC, and dumped fuel before returning to land safely. The plane remained on the runway as officials inspected the aircraft. Passengers were put up in local hotels and scheduled to take an alternate flight Friday afternoon.

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    Student Group aboard D.C. United Plane During Flat Tire Landing

    What: United Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Houston,TX to Washington DC
    Where: Washington
    When: Apr 9th 2012 11:15 am
    Who: 122 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On landing in Washington, the plane suffered two blown rear tires.

    The plane was towed to the terminal.

    No injuries were reported.

    Fourteen students and chaperones from Mt. Carmel Louisiana were aboard, and were interviewed by a TV station after the rough landing in Washington DC. They said the landing was rough, and praised the pilot for being so calm.

    Another group of fourteen joining them flew in on a different plane from Atlanta. They will all be returning to Lafayette on Friday, and they say none of them have developed a fear of flying.

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    Colgan Main Gear Landing in Houston


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer A. Kwanten

    What: United/Colgan de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Little Rock,AR to Houston
    Where: Houston
    When: Apr 7th 2012
    Who: 31 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: While on approach to Houston, the gear did not come down. The crew performed a fly by, and ATC confirmed that the main gear were down but not the front (nose) landing gear.

    The pilots made a second approach which concluded landing on the main gear. The pilots kept the nose up as long as possible.

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    Turbulence Injures UA Passengers, Crew



    Large view
    Contact photographer Paul Spijkers
    What: United Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Tampa to Houston
    Where: Louisiana
    When: April 4, 2012
    Who: 146 passengers and six crew, seven injuries
    Why: From seven to twelve people aboard United Airlines flight were injured when the plane ran into severe turbulence flying over Lake Charles Louisiana and the same cell that caused the tornadoes sweeping through Texas.

    (The number of injured reported varies. Earlier reports indicated seven injuries, three going to the hospital.) Pilots declared emergency in order to have a priority landing in Houston. From three to twelve people were hospitalized on arrival at 8:00 a.m.

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    Hard Landing in Denver

    What: United/Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Peoria,IL to Denver,CO
    Where: Denver
    When: Apr 3rd 2012
    Who: 22 aboard
    Why: The pilot made what is described as a “hard short landing” and informed ATC that he struck the lights. To exacerbate matters, smoke was reported in the cockpit. A firefighter reported hot spots on the control panel.We haven’t heard verification if he actually hit the lights, but apparently one passenger was injured and the plane was reported as being “disabled” on the runway for two hours.

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    Skywest Lands Smokey Lav in Denver, No Fire


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Frank Robitaille

    What: United Express/Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Denver to Tulsa
    Where: Denver
    When: Mar 17th 2012
    Who: 49 passengers, 3 crew
    Why: After takeoff from Denver, the flight was still above Denver when smoke was indicated in the lavatory.

    The pilot returned to make a safe landing with emergency services on standby. Passengers disembarked safely with no reported injuries (and no fire found) and were ported to the gate.

    Needful Maintenance? Smoke alarm? Fumes burning off the engine? Someone smoking in the bathroom? Inquiring minds want to know.

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    Skywest/United Airlines/Continental Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Texas

    What: SkyWest en route from Houston to Toronto
    Where: East Texas Regional Airport in Gregg County
    When: March 6, 2012, 10:02 PM,
    Who: 58 passengers, 2 pilots, 2 flight attendants
    Why: While en route, a small fire in a cockpit printer sent the smell of smoke though the flight deck. The fire was reported to ATC and the plane made an emergency landing at East Texas Regional Airport in Gregg County.

    The 58 passengers disembarked without emergency, and were bussed to Dallas where another plane was scheduled to take them the last leg of their journey.

    AP reported this as a United Express jet. SkyWest operates the flight as a codeshare with United Airlines and Continental.